When sunshine and palm timber are calling your title, it’s time to begin planning a weekend in Los Angeles. With so many direct flights and a plentitude of free or reasonably priced sights, a weekend in Los Angeles is an ideal last-minute weekend getaway.
But in such a busy metropolis, planning a weekend in LA can really feel a bit overwhelming. Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Downtown LA, Santa Monica, and all of the neighborhoods in between. Where must you begin? This two-day Los Angeles itinerary hits all of the highlights.
Staying longer? Try this 3 day Los Angeles itinerary or add in one in every of these weekend getaways in Southern California.
Weekend in Los Angeles Itinerary: Day 1
This itinerary consists of sights and neighborhoods which are nice to discover if that is your first time in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
To begin off your first morning within the City of Angels, head to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, extra generally often called LACMA. You will acknowledge the “Urban Light” exhibit on the south facet of the museum from footage and flicks.
LACMA is basically extra of a whole advanced than it’s a museum. Although the museum is present process in depth building and renovations till 2024, LACMA nonetheless maintains a variety of displays on fashionable artwork in vibrant buildings, all constructed in thought-provoking designs.
If it’s worthwhile to funds your time for LACMA (or in case you are not massive on museums), choose two displays to take pleasure in at a gradual tempo, slightly than making an attempt to hurry by means of the complete advanced. I might counsel choosing one of many momentary displays and one of many everlasting collections to go to.
If you’re visiting with children that aren’t all for artwork, you may substitute the La Brea Tar Pits, a premier Ice Age excavation web site positioned adjoining to LACMA that are an amazing various to the museum.
The Grove
Head over to The Grove for lunch by strolling throughout to the north facet of the museum. The nicest approach to get from LACMA to The Grove on a transparent day is by strolling— you’ll move by some nice road artwork in your method— however in any other case, taking a rideshare or a rentable scooter (like Lyft, Bird, Lime, and so on.) might be your greatest wager.
The Grove is admittedly glitzy in a typical LA vogue. It is dwelling to some middle-of-the-road to higher-end purchasing, however the glam of The Grove is nothing like what you may discover on Rodeo Drive.
The Grove’s toned-down LA model is extra appropriate for a calming weekend. You may go to The Original Farmer’s Market to browse the stands and outlets for snacks or a meal— this can be a good place to have a fast, reasonably priced lunch in a cushty, outside setting.
Santa Monica
To expertise Los Angeles’ seashore tradition, make your approach to Santa Monica after The Grove. Santa Monica is one in every of LA’s nicest neighborhoods— relaxed, located on the water, and residential to nice consuming and purchasing, it’s the excellent place to spend a low-key getaway.
As per ordinary in LA, the best approach to get from The Grove to Santa Monica is by rideshare. However, in case you are trying to make use of public transportation, take a metropolitan bus to the Metro Rail cease at La Cienega/Jefferson after which hop on the Expo Line in direction of Santa Monica, which takes you proper into the middle of the neighborhood.
Los Angeles will get a foul rap for having horrible public transportation however it’s clear, user-friendly, low-cost, and handy sufficient— it simply doesn’t typically get portrayed this manner. Overall, taking the LA Metro is a good way to economize on rideshare fares, which might begin to pile up on a visit to LA in case you are not cautious.
To get a great really feel for Santa Monica, begin with strolling up 2nd Street or third Street Promenade earlier than turning left and heading in direction of the seashore and Ocean Avenue. You may have a tough time resisting the salty breeze that beckons for any passersby to come back down from the trail to the boardwalk and the gorgeous strip of seashore that Santa Monica is so well-known for.
Santa Monica State Beach is a state seashore so it’s fully free to make use of, so be certain to pack your swimsuits and towels. There is an extra paved path that runs adjoining to the seashore which is ideal for working or biking. If none of this appeals, Santa Monica Pier is appropriately touristy however can simply gratify no matter leisure you’re searching for.
Daring children might take pleasure in Pacific Park, which is dwelling to a number of amusement park rides. There are additionally tons of typical snack meals stands to fulfill no matter fried or sugary carnival meals it’s that you’re craving.
Be positive to stay round for an exquisite sundown over the water. For dinner, there are plenty of nice locations to eat just some minutes’ stroll from the seashore. I like to recommend Sugarfish, a well-liked, genuine Japanese restaurant that has a number of places in LA in addition to in different main cities within the US.
If you’re visiting with out the children, this space of LA is nice for purchasing, too. If you’re searching for good nightlife after dinner, West Hollywood is well-known for its bar scenes and stay music, plus it’s not too arduous of a trek from Santa Monica.
Weekend in Los Angeles: Day 2
Start off your subsequent morning with Mexican-style brunch at a Guisados location someplace within the metropolis. Guisados provides a variety of breakfast tacos, scrumptious agua fresca, and different Mexican classics. The authentic Guisados is positioned in Boyle Heights, however there are actually a number of places all through the world. Try the one on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood in your approach to Griffith Park.
Sunset Strip & Griffith Park
Walk a bit alongside Sunset Strip to expertise extra of LA’s trademark quirkiness earlier than making your approach to Griffith Park. If the climate just isn’t too scorching and you feel additional adventurous, there are many climbing and working trails to take pleasure in.
Regardless, be certain to cease by the Griffith Observatory on the high of the park. Built in 1935, the structure alone is spectacular. The displays contained in the planetarium are glorious, too, however the actual draw of the observatory is its stunning vantage level. The observatory constructing is surrounded by a few low partitions from which you’ll be able to stare out in any respect of LA that sprawls out from the underside of the park.
To the west is a superb view of the Hollywood signal. To the north, there’s a fairly view of the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. There is a pleasant, grassy house to chill out in entrance of the observatory, in addition to a pleasant glassed-in balcony space with tables the place you may eat meals ready on the observatory or picnic-type meals that you would be able to carry with you (suppose still-warm tamales picked up from Guisados). If you want to stroll a bit extra, there are some simple paths that you will discover close to the highest of the observatory.
If you don’t plan on spending a lot time in Griffith Park, you would add on a go to to Hollywood and the Walk of Fame. Both are shut by, as is Rodeo Drive. If you’re visiting with teenagers, you could need to take a look at youthful Westwood Village, dwelling to UCLA and the UCLA Botanical Gardens.
Koreatown
For the final night of your Los Angeles weekend getaway, attempt a few of LA’s nice Korean meals. Koreatown itself is positioned simply exterior of Downtown LA, but when that is too far out of the best way for you, there’s nice Korean meals to be present in a lot of areas of LA. BCD Tofu House has nice soondubu (comfortable tofu stew)— an LA Korean basic— and bulgogi, Korean barbecued beef.
Los Angeles is a giant metropolis, however in case you are environment friendly and selective in what you select to see and do, it’s a nice metropolis for a calming weekend getaway or an extended weekend journey. If you might have extra time and are visiting with your loved ones, listed below are suggestions on issues to do in close by Orange County with children. Or, plan a Joshua Tree day journey for one thing totally different.
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Today’s visitor publish is written by Max Levine. Max has been touring ever since he can keep in mind together with his household. In latest years, he has been the one who plans holidays for his household and for himself, from researching airfare and railway tickets to crafting itineraries. Max has traveled quite a bit each within the US and internationally. He has additionally developed a penchant for writing. Max hopes to proceed pursuing alternatives to journey and write each in faculty and past that. All photographs by Max Levine.